As soon as once more, the Knicks had been outclassed by superior Japanese Convention competitors.
Lower than 48 hours after being dismantled by the Cavaliers in a 37-point loss, 142-105, New York suffered its second consecutive humiliating loss, falling 118-105 on the highway towards the Celtics.
The Cavaliers (46-10, first in Japanese Convention) and Celtics (41-16, second in Japanese Convention) are the East’s greatest groups. New York’s lack of ability to compete towards each means this crew’s ceiling is probably going the East semifinals.
After going all-in to compete for an NBA title this offseason by buying ahead Mikal Bridges and heart Karl-Anthony Cities, being unable to advance previous the second spherical of the playoffs for the third consecutive season could be a monumental failure.
And that is exactly the place New York seems to be headed.
The Knicks are 0-5 towards the Cavs and Celtics this season, being outscored by a mean of 21.2 factors per recreation. Their protection has struggled every time, permitting a mean of 126.6 factors on 52.6 p.c capturing. Boston and Cleveland have averaged 19.2 threes per recreation on 44.2 p.c capturing from downtown.
With these two groups in agency management of the East’s prime two seeds, New York should get previous one in all them — barring a monumental first-round upset — to succeed in the convention finals, and certain each to succeed in the NBA Finals for the primary time since 1999.
What’s extra seemingly is the crew shall be out of the playoff image by mid-Could and going through important questions on its future course.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau has accomplished an awesome job of creating the Knicks (37-20, third in Japanese Convention) respectable once more, however the crew would possibly want a brand new voice on the prime to recover from the hump.
As a lot because the crew’s chemistry is optimistic, New York should additionally contemplate whether or not the Villanova core of Bridges, level guard Jalen Brunson and ahead Josh Hart could make the strides essential to win an NBA championship.
Whereas that is still to be decided, what’s instantly obvious is that the established order will not get it accomplished. The Knicks have to make modifications to be a severe contender. The remainder of the season might decide how drastic these alterations shall be.
